Samuel boice



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL BOICE, OF' EDINA, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN H. HILL, OF SAME PLACE.

CARPET-STRETCH ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of LettersPatent N0. 425,160, dated April 8, 1890.

Application filed May 15, 1889. Serial No. 310,818- (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.- I

Be it known that I, SAMUEL BOICE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edina,

in the county of Knox and State of Missouri,

have invented a new and useful Carpet- Stretcher; of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in carpetstretchers; and it consists in certain novel features hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 isa side view of my improved carpet-stretcher. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in a different position. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the lever and the support therefor. Fig. 5 is a detail plan View.

The base or main bar of my improved carpet-stretcher is composed of a series of sections or members A B O, the sections B C beingconnected at their meeting ends by a hinge D, as clearly shown. The members B O can thus be folded closely together when the device is not-in use, so that it can be stored in a small space out of the way. The

member Bis provided with a series of perforations or recesses E, which are adapted to be engaged by a pin F, mounted in the memher A, so as to hold the said members A B at the desired adjustment. The members A B are held together by the loops G H, secured, respectively, to the members B A and passing around the other member. The member A is further provided on its under side, near its front end, with a depending pin 1, to prevent the lower memberB being pushed so far forward as to interfere with the successful operation of the stretching-bar.

The stretching-bar J consists, essentially, of two arms secured together at right angles, so as to form a T-head, as clearly shown, and the front cross-bar of the T-head is provided on its under side with a series of teeth K, which are adapted .to engagethe carpet in the operation of the device. The longitudinal bar of the T -head extends under the front end of the memberA of the main bar and is supported by means of the loops or hangers L M, secured to the said member A and depending therefrom. The said longitudinal bar of the T-head plays in these hangers and can be moved easily through them to stretch the carpet.

The two parts of the T-head are secured to- 5 5 gether by the braces N, which are arranged on the opposite sides of the T-head and have rearward extensions 0, provided with the ratchet-teeth P in their upper edges, and these rearward extensions are secured to the opposite sides of the longitudinal bar of the T-head and extend through the hangers L M. The said hanger M is provided at its upper end with the forwardly-projecting arms Q, and the operating-lever R is fulcrumed between these arms Q, and is provided at its lower end with the teeth or spurs S, which engage the ratchet-teeth P. The operating lever is provided with a longitudinal slot T, and a fulcrum or pivot pin U is secured in the ends of the arms Q and passes through the said slot T: The lever can be thus swung around so as to feed the stretching-bar forward, and is also also allowed a longitudinal movement over the fulcrum-pin, so that it can be lifted from engagement with the stretching-bar and can be pushed forward so as to move the stretching-bar a considerable distance. For convenience I prefer to form the longitpdinal slot in the operating-lever by making an extended recess in the rear side of the lever and then passing a strap V over the said recess and around the fulcrum-pin. The said strap serves to re-enforce and strengthen the end' of the lever, as Well as to hold the fulcrum-pin in engagement therewith.

The stretching-bar is held against backward movement aft-er it has been fed forward by a pawl \V,pivoted to the side of the member A of the main bar and having its free end playing in a recess X and held therein by a staple Y, so that it cannot fall laterally from the main bar and out of engagement with the ratchet-teeth on the stretching-ban In practice the device is placed over the 5 carpet tobe stretched, with the end of the bar C resting against one wall of the room and with the stretching-bar arranged over the free edge of the carpet with its teeth K engaging the same. pushed rearward and downward, causing the spurs or teeth at its lower end to engage the The operating-lever is then too ratchet-teeth on the stretching-bar, and there by feed the same forward, so as to stretch the carpet. As the stretching-bar is fed forward the ratchet-teeth on the sides of the same slip under the pawl WV; but when the pressure on the operating-lever is removed the pawl falls into engagement with the ratchet-teeth, so as to prevent the stretching-bar moving backward, as will be readily understood. The operating-lever is then swung forward, so as to obtain a fresh purchase on the stretchingbar, and the former operation is repeated. When the carpet has been stretched, it is secured in the usual manner and the stretcher r5 removed.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very simple carpet-stretcher, by the use of which the carpet can be rapidly and efficiently stretched to the desired degree.

By making the main bar in a series of sec tions, as shown and described, the device can be extended, so that it can be used on a floor of any size, and can be readily folded into a compact space when not in use. The advantages of my device are thought to be obvious from the foregoing description, and a detailed reference thereto is deemed unnecessary.

Having thus described my invention, I clai1n- 1. The combination of the main bar, the stretching-bar arranged beneath the main bar, the hanger secured on the main bar and having integ 'al upwardly and forwardly projecting arms, the lever enge ging the stretching-bar and having a recess in its rear side, the pivot-pin secured in the arms of the hanger and passing through the said recess, and the strap secured on the lever and passing over the recess, as set forth.

2. The stretching-bar consisting of two bars secured together at right angles and the braces having their ends secured to the ends of the transverse bar, extending obliquely to the longitudinal bar, and provided with rearward extensions lying against and secured to the sides of the longitudinal bar and provided with ratchet-teeth in their upper edges, in combination with a main bar sliding over said longitudinal bar, hangers thereon loosely engaging the latter, and a spur and pawls thereon engaging said ratchet-teeth, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL BUICK. Witnesses:

.T. W. Fox, J. W. ENNIs. 

